US 4,899,988 AGranted

Fiber optic cable placing equipment

AssigneeMadison lightwave Systems, Inc.

InventorJeffrey L. Mills

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Abstract

The cable puller employs a conically tapered capstan and self-contained motor both carried on a readily collapsible and portable frame. The puller is adapted for placing inside of a manhole where the capstan is aligned with the duct through which the cable is to be pulled. Several such cable pullers may be operated in concert to pull a theoretically endless fiber optic cable at a controlled speed and without exceeding the tensile strength of the cable. Tension on the cable effects the frictional gripping force between the capstan and the cable looped there around and this gripping force controls the extent to which the cable is permitted to climb up and slip down the conical incline of the capstan to a point where equilibrium is reached. A radio-controlled sensor is provided at each pulling station to signal cable stoppage faults and to respond to faults signaled by other pulling stations by shut down of all stations until the fault is corrected.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A system for pulling a cable comprising:

a first generally vertically arranged column;
a first means for holding said first column in an upright position;
a first platform means carried on said first column having means for adjustably securing said first platform at various positions along the length of said first column;
a first cable pulling capstan carried on said first platform for rotation about an axis, said first capstan having a conically tapered body, said body being of a dimension enabling axial migration of a cable situated on said first capstan upon a change in tension of said cable, to thereby change the rate of travel of said cable as it is pulled;
a first means supported by said first column for rotationally driving said capstan about said axis;
a second generally vertically arranged column;
a second means for holding said second column in an upright position;
a second platform means carried on said second column having means for adjustably securing said second platform at various positions along the length of said second column;
a second cable pulling capstan carried on said second platform for rotation about an axis, said second capstan having a conically tapered body, said body being of a dimension enabling axial migration of said cable situated on said second capstan upon a change in tension of said cable, to thereby change the rate of travel of said cable as it is pulled;
and
a second means supported by said second column for rotationally driving said capstan about said axis;
wherein said first and second capstans are so constructed and arranged such that the rate of travel of said cable is substantially uniform as said cable is pulled by said capstans.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/139,127Filed 23 Dec 1987 · continuation
Priority: 28 Aug 1985
Granted: 13 Feb 1990
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B65H 51/30
Forwarding filamentary material: devices controlling the forwarding speed to synchronise with supply, treatment, or take-up apparatus
B65H 51/04
Rotary devices, e.g. with helical forwarding surfaces: rollers, pulleys, capstans, or intermeshing rotary elements
B65H 51/32
Forwarding filamentary material: supporting or driving arrangements for forwarding devices
B65H 63/024
Responsive to reduction in material tension, failure of supply, or breakage, of material: responsive to breakage of materials